Manny & Lo Review
It's interesting to note how few movies are made on the subject of pregnancy, given how frequently and variously the situation actually occurs in the human experience. Lisa_Krueger's debut film, Manny & Lo, thankfully addresses the issue with a quirky, gentle wit. Tough as nails Laurel (called Lo) is played by Aleksa_Palladino with the appropriate snarl and detachment of a 16-year-old who happens to be a pregnant runaway. Her impulsiveness effectively fuels the survival elements and kidnapping plot; her desperation and ineptitude makes the silly premise believable and fun. Providing the narrative voice, Scarlett_Johansson gives the 11-year-old Amanda (called Manny) a calm intelligence, bringing a heart and soul to the situation. Their bickering sisterly interplay is tempered when they meet Mary_Kay_Place, ideally cast as Elaine, a matronly saleswoman and knower of all things prenatal. The three women form a bizarre family structure as the disorganized young criminals lose their direction and enviably grow closer to their hyper-feminine captive, leading up to a genuinely warm conclusion. John_Lurie's jazz and rock-influenced musical score also adds to the creative and playful atmosphere. Marking the breakthrough of its two lead actresses, Manny & Lo was nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards in 1996. Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
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